Teenagers Right To Medical Decision-Making
This brochure contains an outline of a teenagers legal rights when it comes to medical decision making.
The health care guidance your child needs at 12-14 years will be different from what they need when they are 15-17 years or 18-19 years. As your child matures with becoming a teenager, health professionals such as GPs, specialists, psychologists, physiotherapists and dentists will start taking into account your child’s opinions and ability to make independent health care decisions. The age at which a young person can consent to simple health care treatments without involving a parent or guardian is around 14 years.
Dependants have the right to participate in decisions that affect their life, and as they mature to teenagers they gain the right to make their own medical decisions.
Generally, teenagers can give their own …show more content…
consent without their parents’ input in regards to reproductive health services such as contraceptive services and prenatal care, drug and alcohol abuse treatment, and mental health services at the previously stated age of 14.
In the Minors (Property and Contracts) Act 1970 (NSW), it states that a child aged 14 years or over may consent to their own medical or dental treatment, and that it will be effective in terms of defending any actions relating to the treatment.
Provided that a medical practitioner, believes that it is in the best interests of the child and that the child is capable of understanding the nature, consequences and risks involved in the particular treatment, that child is able to consent to their own treatment.
Although teenagers are able to consent to treatment, they do not have the right to refuse medical treatment ordered for them.
When it is unclear as to who is in position to consent to treatment, or where the parents’ wishes conflict with that of the dependants, the courts guardianship jurisdiction may be used to resolve the confusion or dispute. The decision then made by the court will always be based upon the best interests of the child.
Teenagers can also get their own Medicare card when they are 15, or younger if you personally request it. You can also choose to stay on your family Medicare card and have a copy made to keep for
themselves.
At 16 years of age, teenagers can consent to medical and dental treatment with the same authority as an adult. When a child reaches 18 years of age they are considered to have a full legal capacity to give consent to, and refuse, medical treatment.
In the majority of situations, doctors and other health professionals cannot tell anybody else what an individual has discussed with them during a consultation, unless they have given consent for it to be passed on to parents or carers. Time alone with health professionals can help teenagers feel confident to talk about personal issues, and build trust that the health professional will keep their health information private.
The health care guidance your child needs at 12-14 years will be different from what they need when they are 15-17 years or 18-19 years. As your child matures with becoming a teenager, health professionals such as GPs, specialists, psychologists, physiotherapists and dentists will start taking into account your child’s opinions and ability to make independent health care decisions. The age at which a young person can consent to simple health care treatments without involving a parent or guardian is around 14 years.
Dependants have the right to participate in decisions that affect their life, and as they mature to teenagers they gain the right to make their own medical decisions.
Generally, teenagers can give their own …show more content…
consent without their parents’ input in regards to reproductive health services such as contraceptive services and prenatal care, drug and alcohol abuse treatment, and mental health services at the previously stated age of 14.
In the Minors (Property and Contracts) Act 1970 (NSW), it states that a child aged 14 years or over may consent to their own medical or dental treatment, and that it will be effective in terms of defending any actions relating to the treatment.
Provided that a medical practitioner, believes that it is in the best interests of the child and that the child is capable of understanding the nature, consequences and risks involved in the particular treatment, that child is able to consent to their own treatment.
Although teenagers are able to consent to treatment, they do not have the right to refuse medical treatment ordered for them.
When it is unclear as to who is in position to consent to treatment, or where the parents’ wishes conflict with that of the dependants, the courts guardianship jurisdiction may be used to resolve the confusion or dispute. The decision then made by the court will always be based upon the best interests of the child.
Teenagers can also get their own Medicare card when they are 15, or younger if you personally request it. You can also choose to stay on your family Medicare card and have a copy made to keep for
themselves.
At 16 years of age, teenagers can consent to medical and dental treatment with the same authority as an adult. When a child reaches 18 years of age they are considered to have a full legal capacity to give consent to, and refuse, medical treatment.
In the majority of situations, doctors and other health professionals cannot tell anybody else what an individual has discussed with them during a consultation, unless they have given consent for it to be passed on to parents or carers. Time alone with health professionals can help teenagers feel confident to talk about personal issues, and build trust that the health professional will keep their health information private.